Peer Counselor- The Family Room

Peer Counselor- The Family Room

The Family Room program is a groundbreaking mental health crisis diversion program, the first of its kind in the New York State. Located within the Ellis Mental Health Outpatient Services building, the Family Room is a quiet and comfortable atmosphere for youth and their family, called “guests”, to receive support in their time of need. The purpose of the Family Room program is to provide guests with free and person-centered crisis counseling, referrals, and other community resources needed to prevent unnecessary Emergency Room visits.

The Family Room staff specializes in a wide range of treatment interventions, including trauma-informed care and integrated mental health and substance use treatment. The Family Room Psychiatric Peer Counselor will have the opportunity to provide direct care and advocacy for a diverse and vulnerable population. The role of a Peer Counselor encompasses a broad range of support for guests, all of which have the person’s best interest in mind. The roles include advocacy, mentoring, active and compassionate listening, providing information, offering emotional support, validation, encouragement, sharing hopefulness and using one’s experience of success to serve as evidence of the possibility and likelihood of recovery. The Peer Counselor helps equip guests with the necessary tools and resources to manage their experiences, resulting in an increased sense of independence and self-worth.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT(S) :

• Personal experience with mental health and a basic understanding of a variety of mental health diagnoses
• High school diploma or GED
• NYS Peer Specialist Certification or successfully completed the NYS Peer Specialist training provided by The Academy of Peer Services and working towards completing 2,000 hours in peer advocacy services for NYS Peer Specialist Certification preferred

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS :

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION :

Ellis Medicine is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex / gender, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, military or veteran status, prior arrest, or conviction record, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender identity, gender expression, reproductive health decisions, or domestic violence victim status.

Salary Range : $16.63-24.11 / hour Pay is based on experience, skills, and education. Exempt positions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) will be paid within the base salary equivalent of the stated hourly rates. The pay range may also vary within the stated range based on location.

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